Thursday, January 18, 2024

difficult calls

She unplugs her phone repeatedly

Disconnecting the landline jack

Alone in her solitary memory care room

Wanting no contact with unknown callers


The staff regularly plug it back in

So she tried disassembling the phone 

But the weekly phone call visit still happens

Despite her angry objections


My sister keeps making the difficult calls 

Hoping for a rare good day

To be recognized as her loving daughter 

But mostly receiving rejection


How upsetting for both of them

To be trapped in the disconnect

Talking to an unfamiliar person

Unhappy with unwanted attention 


Finding herself isolated among strangers

Dismayed that they purport to know her

Asking for contact only through letters

To escape the frustrating interactions


The last time I saw her she knew me

Glad that I came with my daughter

To take a few things being passed on

To prepare to move to assisted living 


Our chance to connect saying goodbye

And I gave her a book that I hoped might help

The story of Someone I Used To Know

As if anyone can handle losing yourself